Theta Digital Releases Casablanca IV Preamp/Processor

Theta Digital has just released the Casablanca IV, the newest version of its music and cinema controller. The Casablanca IV adds some new features, Dirac Live 96 digital room correction and optimization and Jitter Jail II which gives much greater jitter reduction than heretofore possible. These upgrades are made possible with the PR-3, a new post-processing card, which can be added to the older Casablanca III to give it the same upgrades.

From Theta Digital

The most widely acclaimed manufacturer of high-end audio components, Theta Digital, today introduced the latest version of its flagship Music and Cinema Controller: the Casablanca IV. Originally introduced over 17 years ago, the Casablanca platform has undergone continuous development designed to maintain its position at the forefront of the audiophile world. In its latest iteration, the Casablanca IV adds Dirac Live® 96K digital room correction and optimization, Theta's proprietary Jitter Jail™ II and new post-processing capabilities designed to allow the addition of new features to the platform as technological advancements warrant.

To denote the new version, the Casablanca IV has new metalwork and a new display window.

The key to these new features is the development of a new expandable post-processing card: the PR-3. The new card quadruples the DSP power of the platform, increases the audio bandwidth, consolidates all digital inputs onto a single input slot, frees another slot for future expansion, has space to add additional processing power and uses multiple FPGA devices to allow the addition of new instruction sets to accommodate new technology as it arises.

According to Dave Reich, Theta Digital's chief engineer, "We had two goals with this project, to make a significant improvement in the Casablanca user' experience and to ready the Casablanca platform for the next decade of audio innovation. Dirac Live® 96K and Jitter Jail™ II fix real sonic issues caused by the listening room and source material while the innovative expandable PR-3 card leaves the door open for new sources and new DSP solutions."

Pricing for the Casablanca IV starts at $16,245.

Theta Digital also announced new programs designed to allow owners of previous generations of the Casablanca preamp/processor to keep their components up-to-date.

Owners of the current Casablanca III HD, for example, can upgrade their unit to full Casablanca IV status for $3,995.00. This extensive upgrade adds the new, expandable PR-3 post processing card with Dirac Live® 96K and Jitter Jail™ II, a new display window, new metal "Theta Digital" tower, new firmware and new software.

According to Jeff Hipps, Theta Digital's Sr. VP for sales and marketing, "In our opinion, this is the best $4k a Casablanca III HD owner can spend. Nothing else he can do to his system will have as much sonic return as adding Dirac Live® 96K and Jitter Jail™ II."

Owner's of earlier versions of Theta Digital's Casablanca can also upgrade their unit to the Casablanca IV. While the pricing varies, in every case the upgrade will be thousands less than purchasing a new unit.

According to Hipps, "the upgrade program continues our commitment to protect the value of the Theta owner's investment while keeping his components at the edge of the art."

Users seeking more details on the new model or the upgrade program should consult with their Theta Digital dealer or distributor.